text:
When browsing the internet, our computers are constantly threatened by hacker attacks. These individuals specialize in extracting data from our computers and extorting money in exchange for regaining access to them after a ransomware attack. To safeguard our devices, we always need to be one step ahead of them.
This entails using proper security suites, the ones that offer personal firewall protection. In this article, we will discuss what exactly are these personal firewalls and present the best five of them. That way you will have a clear view of which software will serve you best in protecting your computer.
The Definition of Personal Firewall
Below we present a number of best firewall services on the market.
McAfee LiveSafe
With quality performance confirmed by multiple independent tests, McAfee LiveSafe is the top choice for your device's security.
McAfee LiveSafe is an antivirus suite made for PC and other devices, which provides the user with the best protection. The ransomware detection utility seeks out hostile programs trying to make their way into the user's computer and block their access. McAfee LiveSafe works perfectly at flagging risky websites and links, preventing accidental infection. Also equipped with identity-theft protection and personal data encryption, McAfee LiveSafe is an impenetrable castle where all your data will be securely stored.
Comodo Firewall Free
If you already have an antivirus suite, but it doesn't come with a firewall functionality, you can support it with this free software.
Made by the leading security software manufacturers, Comodo Firewall Free offers all the functions of best protection programs, completely free of charge. What's more Comodo Firewall Free comes equipped with Default Deny Protection. DDP is a function that collects the list of over 2 million computer friendly software. If a program that tries to gain access to your network is not on that list, it's immediately blocked and the user is alerted of a possible attack. This neat solution is another reason you should try out Comodo Firewall Free.
Comodo Firewall is a free software.
Norton Security Premium
Norton's patented protection suite is a perfect example of functionality and security. But what else could you expect from one of the best antivirus software companies.
Norton Security Premium comes equipped with all the tools you need to keep your device safe: antivirus suite, VPN function, and real-time threat protection. The suite shines with the Smart Firewall, safeguarding your personal and financial information from hackers trying to gain access to your device. With Norton Security Premium you can rest assured that all your data is perfectly safe.
Don't let the name of this software fool you- TinyWall is a powerful firewall tool made to withstand all kinds of attacks.
What's best about this suite is its simplicity. Despite being a freeware, TinyWall does not have any annoying popups and notifications, that would litter your screen every second. The suite includes a scan that can be used to create a list of safe programs and an Autolearn mode which will allow entry for programs deemed as safe while blocking everything else. All in all, TinyWall is a simple but sure protection tool.
TinyWall Firewall is a free software.
Kaspersky Internet Security
Kaspersky software is one of the most popular and highly-rated on the market, it is, therefore, no wonder that its personal firewall is among the best available.
Kaspersky Internet Security is one of the best, if not the best, firewall for any type of operational system. It will guard your PC against any type of malware and harmful programs, help you in safe online banking and protect your personal data. It has a very good price to quality ratio and while being inexpensive, it still holds its ground against more pricy options. A top-notch software for both professionals and simple families, that want to feel at ease while being online.
Bitdefender Internet Security
Bitdefender Internet Security is a great protection suite, refined through hours of testing against known malware threats.
While Bitdefender Internet Security is one of the most expensive security software available, the hefty price is well worth spending for what it offers. Named as the best personal firewall of 2019, it provides all tools necessary to defend your device from external attacks, such as protection form ransomware and phishing, VPN function as well as an assessment of vulnerable spots in your network. All that and more makes Bitdefender Internet Security perfect, albeit pricey, online security solution.


text:
My SciELO
Revista Fuerzas Armadas y Sociedad
Print version ISSN 0717-1498
Rev. fuerzas armadas soc. vol.1 no.se Santiago 2006
Security and rights: incompatible goods?
Carlos Peña González
Diego Portales University, Chile
Translated by Sin-Yin Antonela Andreani Chia
Translation from Revista Fuerzas Armadas y Sociedad, Santiago, n.3-4, p.147-156, año 18, July/Dec. 2004.
This article suggests that in the origins of modern state, there is a paradox: the state concentrates the use of violence and, in this way, it is the main source of violence; but at the same time, attempts to delete it. To solve this paradox is the main challenge of the democratic state. If modern state provides security without rights, it would lose legitimacy, its moral advantage. At international level, the situation is similar. However, the European constitution shows that Kants dream a cosmopolitan republic is possible.
Key words: security, political theory, Kant, human rights
The following exposition tends to analyze whether security and rights are incompatible goods. My interest focuses in the problem whether between these two goods in conflict, there is or not what theoreticians call zero sum hypothesis. A zero sum hypothesis is set up between any two goods each time one of them cannot be enlarged without the others decline that means, enjoying a good inevitably entails the enjoyment loss with respect to the other. As I explained, my interest focuses in the problem whether security and rights are incompatible goods.
This is not a minor problem, given that, if they are incompatible if we cannot enjoy the maximum security and rights at the same time; thus, the fact of having more rights condemn us to a insecure life therefore, at the time of making policies or designing the institutions you have to decide which of these two goods you prefer to undermine to favor the other one. If the rights and security are incompatible, then we should choose between a more secure society and lower enjoyment of basic rights or, on the contrary, a society with more rights, but less security. If the concept of citizen means a person entitled to rights to validate before the state, and if security and rights are unreconciling goods, then we should choose between a greater citizenship and having more security; and the cost of a greater citizenship, the greater enjoyment of rights will entail the loss of security.
Berlin, a historian whose ideas are worthy to remember, once wrote that choosing is a characteristic of human condition. The human beings said Berlin, desire many things, but they cannot be obtained at the same time, he suggested. We have to decide what we choose and when we choose, we also are deciding what we are going to surrender (for that reason once he said, with an aristocratic resignation, we always lose). It is not possible to have everything in life, said Berlin, neither can we in politics, where you frequently have to choose between rival goods liberty and security, as you must know, were his favorite examples. If you have a society with high level of liberty, then you lose levels of equality and, on the contrary, if a society has greater level of equality, then it has to resign to have less liberty. Berlin suggests that, unfortunately, an intensely free and equal society does not exist, at least in this world (the place where these discussions concern, by the way)1. Is the problem, explained by Berlin, laid out when the issues of security and rights are addressed? Is it true that we also might choose in these matters? And when insecurity increases in the world, do have we to prepare ourselves to reduce rights? Is it true that to save democracy ship it is necessary to throw overboard some portion of human rights and then tolerate torture or humiliation of some human beings especially those whose existence threats us and do not believe in the institutions we do believe?
I think that to answer these questions it may be worth to turn an eye on the origin and kind of modern state, this way to organize the political community in which our lives develop. I believe that if one analyze the particular range of modern state can begin answering this questions and especially the question whether security and rights are incompatible or not.
Of course, what is named modern state that is the existence of organizations that monopolize the use of force over a determinate territory and commit to use it based on rules is a relatively recent historic creation that has no more than three centuries. Before the modern state appeared, the means of use of force (that is, the mechanisms to damage people on bigscale) were distributed in a decentralized way among cities, strongholds, privileged classes or families (haciendas). This situation set up temporal or commercial alliances more or less in occasion of some threat. For instance, if you analyze the correspondence with Machiavello, who testify how political life developed by the XIV and XV centuries, you will find that in the cities people changed masters as easy as pie, depending on the intrigues, marriages or loyalties set up among the owners of symbolic legitimacy and the means to produce violence or force2. When analyzing the work of Giucardini, Florencia of Giovanotti, the same occurs in the writings of Federico as well, that prince who comes to be friend of Voltaire. All these texts show that before the modern state developed, political life worked according to a complex mechanism of agreements and loyalties among those that possessed the force (that were a lot) and those who possessed the symbolic legitimacy (that were few).
The sprouting of the modern State (Machiavello began speaking of State lo stato and modern things, in the politics literature) can be described as a process by which those who posses symbolic legitimacy, begin to expropriate from privates the means to produce force, to monopolize it and constitute rules to its use. For that reason, the most famous definition of State that I remember is one formulated by Weber that define state, as dominion association that claim for itself, with success, the monopoly in the use of physical force in a determinate territory3. As long as the monopoly of physical force does not exist in a determinate territory (as long as groups dispute the monopoly for the use of physical force) the state, in its modern meaning, does not exist.
Therefore, we can conclude, the force is present in the origin of the state: the means fitted to produce coactions over the human beings lives. Then, the difference between modern state and those forms of politics that preceded it does deal with the fact that, before the State there was not violence or use of force. After the state there actually was, but it deals with the fact that before, the use of force was distributed among diverse social and political actors; instead, after the state development, it was concentrated. The concentration and monopoly in the use of force is then the most peculiar and intimate characteristic of modern state, this political form which concretely began in the XVII century and which has lasted up to our days.
Maybe, there is not other writer like Hobbes, who has better described the modern state creation. To justify the existence of the state (explaining the reasons which favor the concentration of use of force that occurred in England in the XVII century), Hobbes argues that this concentration of force paradoxically intend to make disappear the force from the social relationships. If every one can use the force, he argued, then every one becomes a danger for all, violence is covered in "the corner", man is a wolf for man and life is sad, rough, alone and brief. He said the state is like Leviathan from the Bible (in Job book) a powerful and mortal monster, a creature which existence is ensured by men to prevent war against each other4.
Hobbes even wrote: the image that people have of monarchy, the political system, is radically different. For instance, Charles I, whose reign preceded the dramatic collapse of the English monarchy, has described the English system as a repartition of powers among the king, lords and commons: a river, said, that maintain its balance, avoid the floods and inundations (something similar you can find in Oceana, of Harrington)5.
The image of the state as a river that flows, as a delicate balance among the king, lords and commons, is followed by this other image of the state as an indispensable and powerful monster that monopolize use of force just to avoid it to be used in their social relationships by the individuals. As we can see, for Hobbes and for that reason I have stopped to revise his thought the state arises in the middle of a paradox: to avoid a violent life, the state concentrate the force or, in other words, to prevent the use of force, the most extraordinary concentration of force than ever before is created: the state. As Marx suggested, the state is the homeopathy against evil: violence in little doses (for instance the force used by the police) provide us a cure against bigscale violence (v.gr. anarchy, disorder, where no one is safe). The comprehension of this, I believe, means to understand the political life key and, particularly, why it seems to be a contradiction between security and rights in the very intimacy of the state. Given that, it happens after analyzing the situation, in modern conditions, the state becomes the main threat against the peoples rights; but, paradoxically, the same state is that commit to protect those rights, the same which legitimacy is based on the promise to protect those basic rights.
The Fact that the state, as I say, becomes the main threat against people rights; but paradoxically, the only place were those rights can find protection, and the LatinAmerican history is full of examples that prove what I say.
Of course, in Latin America, the state has become the most repeated source of insecurity and violation of people rights, due to both, the lack or excess of state. In the countries where there is not state and exist a giant but feeble apparatus, which has been surrendered to local caciques and bands corruption, life is almost equivalent to the one described by Hobbes in the Leviathan: nobody is certain of anything and the only way to provide one self some safety is by obeying the current cacique and join the band.
In the countries where there is an excess of state, where it gives up the rules and surrenders itself (as it has occurred in a dictatorship), or surrenders itself to the subjectivity of those who concentrate the power, insecurity increases because no body is sure that their rights are going to be respected.
That is the reason why, the challenge of a democratic state is eluding this alternative and makes the effort to demonstrate that it is not true it is necessary to choose between the lack of state and its excess, between fearing others and fearing the state agents. The challenge of a democratic state is to design a political life in which the force is submitted to absolute rules that in no case can be infringed. It is true t the democratic state has to provide security, but it is not that it has to do it badly and at any cost. The challenge of a democratic state consist on providing both, security and rights at the same time; or, if you prefer the challenge of a democratic state is to provide security by thoroughly respecting the citizenship rights even the rights of those who causes damage.
This point of view, which is not mine, is not ingenuous at all, but it is the point of view of democracy or the rule of law: the state submitted to rule, not to an individual personal discretion. Since the state yields to the idea that security and rights are incompatible and accept to sacrifice the rights in order to provide with security faster, in that very moment, it loses the most valuable of the political resources, legitimacy, which means that it lose that moral aura that makes that citizens respect, trust and obey the state.
A state that sacrifice rights in exchange for security (so speaking, a state that torture or mistreat citizens, those who break the laws, or a state which does not provide the guarantees of a lawsuit) is a state that sooner or later, becomes illegitimate and ends by working inefficiently. In other words, a state that (because it has forgotten its democratic commitment) surrenders the rights in exchange for security and forgets that its challenge is just to provide security by respecting the rights, constitutes a state that loses all moral advantage and ends as Saint Augustine suggested: in the City of God, simply mixing up with a band of gangsters, with a band of thieves: once justice is exiled, what are the kingdoms without bands of thieves?6
Thus, I consider that it is necessary to distrust this sudden obsession, which expands along the country, for the citizenship security that results in requesting the application of sever measures against delinquency. This obsession, as all obsessions, is an intellectual error that can end up by sacrificing the rights and inevitably illegitimating the state actions.
On the other hand, as we have seen at domestic level, if inside the state there is not incompatibility between security and rights, and if the challenge of a democratic stateeven for practical reasons consists on making compatible both goods; what occurs at the international level? Is it the same situation what occurs among states or between the state and some inner community that try to undermine it?
Of course, there are deep differences between what occurs inside the state and what occurs out of it.
At international level, as far as the community of states is concerned, the temptation arises, to say that we still are in the middle of what the classic politicians named state of nature. Carl Schmitt suggested that when the state arose, the enemy came to be located out of the borders and the other one became the foreigner, the one who inhabits the space where apparently there are not effective rules7, there is no centralized agency that monopolizes the force (it began to happen at the domestic level in the XVII century) and apparently, where the strongest simply imposes its laws.
All this is true at a point, but there is no need to exaggerate and uphold that, because nothing similar to state has been constituted; therefore, at international level, everything is allowed in order to obtain security. I consider that incorrect; on the contrary, I see a series of processes that permit to deny that vision for the international community, which just seems a simple state of nature.
Of course, one of the phenomena related to globalization processes is the weakness, a kind of deliquescence of national state and domestic political systems. Even though social science does not exhibit a shared body of knowledge about globalization yet (a concept that Hegel began to reflect on in the XIX century and nowadays includes so different works, such as those of Peter Singer, David Held, Manuel Castells and Stiglitz), the literature shows it seems to be an agreement that globalization is a contraction of the world (even capable to suppress the time and space experience) and identity dispersion of its participants, all of us. All of this results in the fact that international community is not a group of states that, as some second postwar geopolitics vision suggest, fight for their supremacy, security and space, a kind of superindividual which in some circumstances, and for it benefit, would scarify everything (even citizens).
In essence, nothing of this is correct. Nowadays, there are at least ten organization that surely are more powerful than most states, and it is not true any more that, inside the states, there is a community of culture (as it is proven, in the case Chilean indigenous settlements demands for recognition). Globalization does prove that cultural entities choked by fiftyyearold geopolitical visions, or by the ideas of statenation from XIX century, continue alive and at the first opportunity they come on stage and fight, even with violence, to be recognized.
There is one prediction of Fukuyama based on the Kojeves texts8 which most of them resulted to be false that still remains: the desire of recognition of communities choked by the fiction of national state. That desire of recognition challenges and threats the states that reached consolidation during the XIX century.
One of the consequences for democratic culture, is the sustained intend (in the case of Europe) to generate supranational institutions, entitled to effective power and tolerant before the cultural diversity. A European Constitution that nowadays becomes more real has followed the existence of unique currency in Europe, a process that followed the Convention on Human Rights of 1959, as well. In addition, there exist the International Criminal Court, so the conclusion that the international world is a war of everybody against everybody, where there are not rules, is obviously wrong. In Latin America, it is true that we are far from those processes; but we already count on an international system related to human rights, we progress in commercial integration, so that it is likely to reach some day, at least political homogenous institutions, if not common institutions.
Therefore, the idea of societies come to respect the same institutions is not a silly dream or idea, given that we already have seen that Europe has reached the creation of common institutions in a way that one decade ago was unimaginable. None of them are a sudden idea that has arisen recently in the political thought.
More than two hundred years ago, to be precise in1795, Kant wrote an essay named Perpetual Peace, in which he imagined a confederation of states that shared the same republican constitution and in which everyones liberty was ensured in the same proportion. In a such confederation, Kant suggested, evil has not been fade away, has it been exiled neither; but at least there will be institutions that might detect it on time and stop it, once it has been confirmed. We cannot know how far the world is from those Kants dreams (which are continued by other authors like v.gr., Habermas) but the existence of the European Constitution and the creation of the International Criminal Court where all who commit crimes against humanity, all that exhibit a radical rejection against the human condition, those who damage it with almost industrial premeditation will be judged is an evidence that the democratic dream is a dream of a world where security is not reachable at the expense of rights, a world where both goods are not incompatibles, this still is a sensitive and possible dream.
Berlin, Isaiah. 1990, The pursuit of ideal en: Berlin, Isaiah. The crooked timber of humanity, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, pp. 119.
Atkinson, James B y David Sices (eds). 1996. Machiavelli and his friends. Their personal correspondence, Northern Illinois University Press, Illinois.
Weber, Max. 1995. Politics as a vocation, en Weber, Max. El político y el científico, Altaya, Buenos Aires.
Hobbes, Thomas. 1940, Leviatán o la materia, forma y poder de una república eclesiástica y civil, Fondo de Cultura Económica, México.
Pocock, J.G.A. 1975. The maquiavellian Moment. Florentine Political Thought and The Atlantic Republican Tradition, Princeton University Press, New Jersey.
Agustine, St. 1952, The City of God, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc, Great Books, Chicago, Book Four.
Schmitt, Carl. 1999, The Concept of the Political, Alianza Editorial, Madrid. Fukuyama, Francis. 1989, The end of history? The National Interest, Summer.
Carlos Peña González
Academic Vice Director of Diego Portales University, Ex Dean of Diego Portales University Law School, Professor of Law in Universidad de Chile. Bachelor in Law and Lawyer, post degree studies in Sociology (PUC) and Philosophy (U. Ch).
1 Berlin, Isaiah. 1990, The pursuit of ideal in: Berlin, Isaiah. The crooked timber of humanity, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, pp. 119.
2 Atkinson, James B y David Sices (eds). 1996. Machiavelli and his friends. Their personal correspondence, Northern Illinois University Press, Illinois.
3 An excellent synthesis of this development is found in Weber, Max, Politics as a Vocation, 1995 in Weber, Max. El político y el científico, Altaya, Buenos Aires, pages 91 and 92.
4 Hobbes, Thomas. 1940, Leviatán o la materia, forma y poder de una república eclesiástica y civil, Fondo de Cultura Económica, México. Especially chapter XXX. (free translation)
5 Pocock, J.G.A. 1975. The maquiavellian Moment. Florentine Political Thought and The AtlanticRepublican Tradition, Princeton University Press, New Jersey. Especially pages 361400. (free translation)
6 Augustine, St. 1952, The City of God, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc, Great Books, Chicago, Book Four, Capítulo 4. p. 190. (free translation)
7 Schmitt, Carl. 1999, The Concept of the Political, Alianza Editorial, Madrid. pp. 58 and 59
8 Fukuyama, Francis. 1989, The end of history?, The National Interest, Summer, p. 1

subset: commoncrawl


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S&C Electric Company (S&C) and MacLean Power Systems (MPS) have entered into a definitive agreement whereby MPS will acquire certain assets related to S&C's polymer fuse cutout line and will be granted by S&C the exclusive rights to market and sell porcelain fuse cutouts in the U.S. and Canada. The transaction is expected to close by April 16, 2010.
Type XS porcelain fuse cutouts will continue to be manufactured by S&C in their Suzhou, China facility and sold exclusively by MPS in the U.S. and Canada under the MPS brand name. The assets related to the Type XS polymer fuse cutout will be relocated to MPS's York, SC facility.
The addition of fuse cutouts to MPS's product offering is in response to customer requests for MPS to provide a more complete market basket for distribution line construction. The fuse cutout better aligns MPS with the competition and positions MPS to provide improved supply chain economies. For polymer fuse cutouts specifically, the agreement combines S&C's industry-leading fuse cutout expertise with MPS's world-class capabilities in silicone rubber insulator design and manufacturing.
Tom Smith, President and CEO of MPS, said, "Given MacLean's desire to enter the cutout market, reaching this agreement with S&C is the best-case scenario for MPS. We get to enter the market by working with S&C, a recognized industry leader in technology, quality, and customer service."
John Estey, President and CEO of S&C, said, "This is a terrific combination: marrying the S&C fuse cutout with MPS's complementary products to better meet customer needs in the U.S. and Canada while maintaining fuse cutout production in Suzhou to keep S&C a strong competitor in overseas markets. This will also allow our Canadian and U.S. teams to focus more strongly on developing innovative new products, including those for the smart grid."
Until the agreement closes on April 16, 2010, MPS and S&C will conduct business as usual.
About MacLean Power Systems
Privately held MacLean Power Systems, a MacLean-Fogg Company, is a worldwide leading manufacturer of products used by utilities for building communication, transmission and distribution lines and power substations. With global raw material sourcing capabilities, MPS produces over 10,000 items for the Power, Communication and Civil construction markets. Through innovation, quality and service, the MPS mission is to provide products and services that support the delivery of reliable power. For more information about our diverse product offering, visit our web site at www.macleanpower.com.
About S&C Electric Company
S&C, headquartered in Chicago, IL, is applying its heritage of innovation to address challenges facing the world's power grids and thus shaping the future of reliable electricity delivery. The mission of employee-owned S&C is to continually develop new solutions for electricity delivery, fostering the improved efficiency and reliability required for the intelligent grid. Additional information about S&C is available at www.sandc.com. Media Contacts: MacLean Power Systems Contact: Dennis Zalar, VP Marketing Phone: 630-215-5156 E-Mail: [email protected] S&C Electric Company Steven A. Strand, Advertising Programs Supervisor Phone: 773-338-1000 E-Mail: [email protected]


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Metallic Gold sparkle dried sun palms leaf leaves fan natural florist craft supplies everlasting palm rustic boho home wedding décor floral
These beautiful, metallic gold sparkle sun palms make perfect home or event décor. They look stunning on their own or can be added to floral arrangements to add height and texture
**Price is per stem**
Stems measure approximately 40cm. Due to the nature of this product items may vary slightly in size and appearance
I have a wide variety of dried and preserved florals available. These can be viewed in my shop:
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text:
All carpet and headlining is out, as are the back seats and rear cars / trim panels.
I've then bought a set of side mount Motordrive pro bucket seats, and am looking at fitting them, but it's not so straightforward due to the ridges in the floor pan where the front seats bolt down.
A few people have suggested you can buy Fiesta Mk3.5 rails and then bolt side mount brackets and the seatbelt clip onto these so you get the benefit of a slider and subframe without having to pay £120+ each side for the OMP subframe and slider.
Is this correct, and if so, anyone know a good breaker who does them for reasonable prices - I've seen a few on eBay but I'm not paying £100 for a pair of rails from a flaming Fiesta!
Alternatives? I don't really want to have to weld more into the car and similarly don't want to have to have anything fabricated if I can avoid it as I don't have the kit for either.
This post has been edited by 400AndRising: 03 August 2017 - 11:10 AM


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Decarbonization of homes is the sustainability challenge of today. It's the newest addition to the global paradigm shift towards a more sustainable economy. In the automotive industry, agriculture and even in air travel, efforts have already been made to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions from energy sources. Next on the list: homes.
Decarbonization has also come to the attention of European policy makers. The EU in particular recently pledged to "play a central role" in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
On a national level, the Netherlands will kiss gas goodbye, the French government is stimulating oil boiler replacements, Finland is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2035 and Lower Austria has prohibited oil heating in new buildings.
Lofty goals, but how will these countries achieve them? They are betting on heat pumps. And at Daikin, we are convinced that they're right. Heat pumps are more than ready to take on the challenge of home decarbonization. They are not a technology of the future, but an established solution, ready to go mainstream.
Psychological challenges
In Sweden, heat pumps are the default heating system today. In new buildings in some European countries, heat pumps already have up to 50 percent market share.
In the replacement market, it seems that home owners haven't quite caught on yet. The main challenges for mainstream heat pump adoption in this market seem psychological rather than technological, however.
Many people simply don't understand how a heat pump works.
Others are of the opinion that heat pumps must be noisy, can't look nice or simply aren't there yet in terms of reliability. And maybe homeowners still entertain assumptions about heat pumps that are no longer valid today, simply because the pace of innovation in heat pumps is brisk.
One of those (outdated) assumptions might be efficiency, which until some time ago could have an impact on cost-effectiveness and return on investment.
Air-to-water heat pumps in general tend to show a drop in efficiency when outdoor temperatures go down. At sub-zero temperatures, heat pumps traditionally needed a little help from the electricity grid to offer the required comfort. Of course, this threatens the cost savings and emissions reduction that heat pumps offer.
Newer generations of heat pumps are increasingly capable of high efficiencies, even at lower outdoor temperatures. Our latest air-to-water model heat pump, the Daikin Altherma 3HHT, does not require any additional energy down to minus 15 degrees Celsius outdoor temperature. Innovations like the 3HHT amount to a watershed moment for heat pumps as a replacement for fossil fuel boilers.
Another psychological barrier is the lack of knowledge among installers and architects, which hinders their buy-in. As an industry, we need to go beyond the "heat pump choir" of installers and professionals who are already familiar with airconditioning.
We need to open conversations with installers who have mostly worked with fossil fuel boilers. We should make it easier for them to recommend heat pumps in the replacement market, by making installation more straightforward through great design.
At Daikin, we're adopting this as a key responsibility, because we think it will greatly accelerate the adoption of heat pumps. Regulation can offer a nudge in the right direction here. The Netherlands is a prime example: it is already offering training on renewables for installers. This supports the shift towards renewable heating solutions.
In other markets, it's more a matter of removing incentives for fossil fuel that create a barrier to entry for more sustainable alternatives. In Belgium, for instance, the price of gas is low compared to the price of electricity.
The shift to heat pumps requires awareness and attention from all stakeholders.
But our ambition is quite clear: we want a heat pump in every European home. No new home should be built with a fossil fuel boiler and no old boiler should be replaced with a new boiler. Any lingering technological and psychological barriers, we will take on through relentless innovation.
We see this as an integral part of our Environmental Vision 2050, our pledge to provide safe and healthy air environments while striving to reduce CO² emissions to near zero. And we want to make them easy to use and nice to look at.
Reliability, high CO² emission reduction, efficiency and silence are key. This is a part of our pledge to be a key innovator.


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Star Blazers: Quest for IscandarSynopsisEarth is threatened by the forces of the alien race from the planet Gamilon, who is bombing the planet to a radioactive wasteland. To survive, the human race fled underground, building their cities there. Then, one day, the people of Earth receives a message from Starsha of planet Iscandar. She knows of planet Earth's plight, and offers them the Cosmo DNA as well as the plans to a new type of space engine. The people of Earth rebuilds the ancient battleship Yamato into a space faring cruiser renamed "The Argo" and heads off into space, lead by captain Avatar. Will they succeed in reaching Iscandar, despite Gamilon ruler Desslok's effort to thwarth their plans? And will they be able to make it back within a year and save the planet from its radioactive curse? ReviewWhen the opportunity to purchase one of Leiji Matsumoto's oldest and best known titles arose, I was practically tickled pink. Having been on a Matsumoto binge over the last year, and with almost all of the titles (save one) keeping a high standard, I really looked forward to when I would be able to take in this adventure that has its 30 years anniversary this very year. 30 years! Well, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to find that there were some issues given the age of the series. Sure, I didn't expect the world as far as art and animation went. And the art and animation IS dated, there's no question about it. What I DIDN'T expect, however, was to see the transfer -- all the nicks, scratches and noise disturbances in it -- to be included as well. This is particularly evident in some of the space battles, where animation consisted of various animation cells being moved around to create a sense of depth. But with large marks on said cells, the scenes didn't exactly look the way they should have. Another issue would be the dub. Let me first say that the dub isn't outright BAD, but again, you hear that this IS a rather old series. You might chalk some of that up to the fact that the sound quality isn't the best inthe world either, but let me again remind you that this series is 30 years old and should be expected to some degree. That doesn't stop me from thinking the dub could have been a lot better, though. Derek Wildstar, the REAL main character of this show, along with most of his buddies are decidedly average through their dubbed voices. IQ-9's voice comes across as the worst one, sounding like any other robot on just about any B-movie you have ever seen. Oddly enough, captain Avatar has a very good dub, as does Gamilon dictator Desslok, who has a silky-smooth voice to go with his sophistically evil demeanor. I wish I could say the same about his underlings, though, and especially his second in command, who sounds more like a completely deadpan firemarshall Bill. Given the fact that firemarshall Bill is a character played by Jim Carrey, I thought that something like this would be impossible to do. Cheers to Starblazers, I guess, for proving me wrong. Thankfully, the series itself is a joy to behold, despite my random difficulties with taking it seriously due to the somewhat corny dub. The characters play off against each other quite nicely and their efforts at reaching Iscandar works out rather well, especially in the light of the way they are portrayed; as a bunch of rookies trying out new technology for the first time. They don't necessarily succeed with everything on the first try -- they even stalled the Argo's motor on their first attempt at starting it up -- but their continuous efforts, which ultimately lead to success, does lend this series its credibility despite the at times seemingly insurmountable odds they are put up against. Basically, if you plan to watch this series, you need to keep in mind that the visual and aural parts of the show has deteriorated badly. If you're willing to look beyond all that, though, you will find a solid series that once introduced an entire generation to the animated medium and was a big influence on Leiji Matsumoto's rise to fame. It's history in the making, despite the dented and worn appearance, and -- as the saying goes -- there's definitely life in this old dog yet. (If you demand great visuals and great efforts from the voice actors, you will probably want to remove a star or two. You'd be missing a milestone in the making, though, but it's your choice) — Stig Høgset Recommended Audience: There's quite a lot of offscreen redshirt deaths, occationally being shown via exploding fighter crafts. Outside of that, violence is limited to a fistfight or two. There's no blood or gore to be found at all, and neither is there any particular fanservice to speak of. Basically, this is a show for all but the very youngest or those who don't like dated sci-fi shows with so-so visuals. Version(s) Viewed: R1 DVD, English Dub Review Status: Full (26/26) Star Blazers: Quest for Iscandar © 1974 Academy Productions |
© 1996-2015 THEM Anime Reviews. All rights reserved. |


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Hello from Long Lane Honey Bee Farms in central Illinois! Wow, what a great start to another beekeeping season. Bees are finally experiencing some warmer temperatures, natural nectar and pollen so things are finally feeling pretty good.
Sheri and I have had so much fun over these last few months teaching hundreds of new beginners about beekeeping. Our business is operating so much better each year thanks to great customers like you. We are flooded with beekeeping questions from all over the US. Sometimes all lines are ringing at once. So when you call in, please be patient with us as two of our daughters who work for us have had surgery and are off for a while. We are excited that Karee and Jesse are expecting their first child, but there are complications and Karee is on indefinite best rest. Please keep her in your prayers, thank you.
We had a wonderful response to our first ever package bee pickup class. Our regular beginner classes are held all day Saturday but we decided to test a 3 hour class on the same day as new beginners were picking up their bees. It was great. I took them out and showed them how to install a package with a real package, then we inspected a hive one week after installation, and then we opened up an overwintered hive. I could hear the students responding with excitement over what they were seeing for the first time, face to face with a live hive with bees flying around and seeing a queen at work on comb. It was a hoot!
Our next exciting adventure in bees will be our week long Beekeeping Institute June 17-21, 2013.
Alex Wild taught me how to use my iPhone for a very close up shot I took last week. Click on the image to see the detail. Alex will be teaching a class at our Beekeeping Institute. Check it out below.
INSTRUCTORS: David Burns EAS certified master beekeeper, Sheri Burns Colony Problem Solver and beekeeper, Charlie Nye Bee Researcher and Bee Lab Manager at the University of Illinois Bee Lab and Alex Wild, biologist, insect photographer and beekeeper. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEEK LONG BEEKEEPING INSTITUTE or Click below to sign up for one or several of our classes that week:
Day 1- Basic Beekeeping Taking Registrations Now
Day 2- Practical Beekeeping Taking Registrations Now
Day 3 - Advance Beekeeping Taking Registrations Now
Day 4 - Queen Rearing Taking Registrations Now
Day 5 - Insect Photography Taking Registrations Now
Maybe you've heard all the reports and chatter about recent reports about why bees are dying. I'M ON THE TALK SHOW, FOCUS, TOMORROW FROM 10am-11am to discuss all of this. You can call in and ask a question.
This Wednesday (May 8th) I'll be on the Radio Talk Show, FOCUS with May Berenbaum, Professor of Entomology at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. It's a call in or email in 1 hour radio program at 580 on the am dial. Here's how you can call in or email your questions during this live broadcast: During the show, you can call us at 217-333-9455 or toll-free at 800-222-9455 or send an email to: email@example.com with your beekeeping questions.
For those of you outside the Champaign/Urbana, Illinois listening area, we'll post a link on our website to the archive of this one hour discussion about why bees are dying.
"The US Agriculture Department said yesterday that the honey bee population declined by more than 30 percent last winter, continuing a decrease in honey bee numbers that began in 2005. That's a problem as more than 20 billion dollars worth of annual harvests rely on bees for pollination. No one really knows exactly why bee populations are dropping, although many speculate it's due to what scientists are calling colony collapse disorder. Researchers have pointed to pesticides, stress and microbial organisms as possible causes but conclusive answers have so far been elusive.
This hour on Focus, host Jim Meadows talks with May Berenbaum, Professor of Entomology at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign about colony collapse disorder, what it is, and what might be causing it. According to new research, high fructose corn syrup could also play a role. We'll also hear from David Burns, a Master Beekeeper and owner of Long Lane Honey Bee Farms in Fairmount." –FOCUS580
Our cedar hives have become a smashing hit! They are beautiful and our customers and loving them. Some are using Tung oil as a natural preservative. I build each top of the cedar hive myself. It has insulation in the top, along with a piece of copper along the peak. We had requests for 8 frame cedar hives too, shown in the picture. To purchase a cedar hive for your garden or yard, click here.
We'll be taking a much needed break so Our offices will be closed May 22 - May 29. Our middle son is a Marine and will be deployed to Afghanistan in a few months so we'll be taking a few days off to spend with him. I'll be riding my motorcycle from Illinois to California too see him. No orders will be shipped during this time and any orders placed during this time will be shipped within 10-14 business days after we return so please place your orders with this in mind. Hope to see you at our Beekeeping Institute June 17-21 here at our honey bee farm. Come spend the week with us!
LESSON 137: What Do Bees Need Most In The Spring?
The answer to this question is, a well educated beekeeper who makes regular inspections. If you do not feel you are well educated in the beekeeping area, let's have a crash course, some fundamental starting points.
First, now that it is spring and you are starting with a new package or a nuc, you must monitor you queen. Queens are fragile and can be killed by the clumsy movements of a beginner. Early queens can die and no one knows why other than living things do die. So DO NOT allow more than two weeks to go by without inspecting the health for your queen.
Most of you have installed your package but let me give two tips. Use a screen bottom board and when you install your package, place an entrance feeder in the front of your hive with 1:1 sugar water and block off the entrance so no bees can exit for 48 hours after installing the package. After 2 days, allow a small opening for the bees to fly in and out. It is not uncommon for a small percentage of new packages to abscond, which is when the entire hive leaves. By keeping the colony blocked in for 2 days it gives them time to release the queen and start building a small amount of comb for the new queen. The second tip is to use an entrance reducer all year. I set mine to the largest setting. This restricts the opening to around 3 inches giving the guard bees the ability to keep out unwanted pests. That's still plenty of room to go in and out even during a heavy nectar flow.
HEALTH OF THE QUEEN is evaluated by inspecting her brood pattern. Look at frames of sealed or capped brood. Make sure it looks dry and not many cells missed. Now, look for larvae and eggs. Please take time every 2 weeks to ensure your queen is laying eggs. If you do not see eggs or larvae order a queen immediately. Every day without a queen means your hive is declining in population by 2,000 bees a day! Everything you do now is getting your hive ready to survive the winter.
While you do not have to feed you new colony as long as the weather is good and the flowers are producing, some suggest it is a good ideal to feed 1:1 sugar water as long as the bees are drawing out the comb on your new foundation.
Finally, the success of your hive will be determined by how aggressive you are toward the varroa mite. This is what we teach in all our classes. The varroa mite is our number one enemy. Start now using your green drone comb, powdered sugar drops and screen bottom boards.
Thanks for joining us for another beekeeping lesson! Don't forget to join us Wednesday on 580AM and call in with some good questions. Sheri and I believe the honey bees will only continue to make a comeback if more and more citizens take up beekeeping. Hobbyist can step forward and make a huge impact on the survival of the honey bee by keeping bees, allowing weeds and flowers to grow, never poison honey bees and sharing the important role honey bees play in pollination.
We hope you'll visit our website at www.honeybeesonline.com, buy some hives and get started in beekeeping! It's not too late. Now is a great time to dive in. Though we are sold out of packages, we'll provide you with the numbers of reliable package providers that will ship bees to you. We are ready to be your friend and mentor in beekeeping. See you next time!
David and Sheri Burns
Long Lane Honey Bee Farms


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The City offers a Tax Increment Financing Program and Downtown Façade Program. Contact the Economic Development Director for more information.
Show All Answers
To take advantage of the benefits, an owner or developer of property within the Enterprise Zone must simply obtain a building permit (the fee for which is waived) and a "certificate of eligibility" from the City of Carbondale's Building and Neighborhood Services Division.
There are detailed procedures to amend the boundaries of the Enterprise Zone. The Zone may be extended to incorporate a property if a specific improvement to the property is being considered. Contact the City of Carbondale or Greater Egypt Regional Planning for detailed information.
The Enterprise Zone expires in 2035.
For a list of current available properties visit our Property Available for Development page.
Visit Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission at http://greateregypt.org/
Visit the Climate and Demographic Information to see the current population.


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Hawaii Politicians Eye Congress | Farm Team
Hawaiian politicians are heading into uncharted waters in 2014, when they will navigate the first election cycle since statehood without the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye.
Inouye, who died from respiratory complications in December, was the unofficial leader of the state's Democratic Party, often helping boost candidates into higher office.
With his absence, and a rare open House seat on the table, many in the state's farm team view 2014 as their shot to ascend to Congress. This cycle is on track to show the most political action in decades.
The Senate primary is set between Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat appointed to the seat by Gov. Neil Abercrombie following Inouye's death, and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, whom Inouye wanted to succeed him.
"There may be a third-party candidate, but by far anyone who wants a political future in Hawaii will stay out of the primary," one Democratic operative said.
Republicans say their most promising candidates view the gubernatorial race as the more winnable statewide contest. Viable candidates will likely pass on a run for Senate.
As a result, the power jockeying will take place in the 1st District race, an open contest thanks to Hanabusa's Senate bid.
With only two House seats in the state, Democrats say the opening will lead to a crowded primary, similar to the state's 2nd District primary in 2006. In that race, 10 Democrats, including seven state lawmakers, vied for the seat, with the winner receiving just 22 percent of the vote.
Honolulu City Councilmember Stanley Chang, a young Harvard-educated politician, has already announced that he is running in the 1st District.
Other potential Democratic candidates include:
•Former Rep. Ed Case, who represented the state's 2nd District until he unsuccessfully challenged former Sen. Daniel K. Akaka in a Democratic Senate primary in 2006. Since then, he's made two failed attempts to rejoin the congressional delegation: a 2010 special-election bid for the 1st District and last cycle's loss to now-Sen. Mazie K. Hirono.
• K. Mark Takai, a state representative since 1994 who represents a strong military district that includes Pearl Harbor.
• State Sen. William Espero, who serves as the majority floor leader.
• Mufi Hannemann, former mayor of Honolulu, who ran in 2012 for the 2nd District. He lost to now-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
• Honolulu City Councilmember Ikaika Anderson.
There are other Democrats who won't run this time around, but who local operatives say could be attractive candidates in future cycles. That list includes:
• State Sen. Jill Tokuda, whom operatives described as well-connected and popular in her district, which includes a large military population.
• Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, who operatives say may run for Congress down the line.
On the Republican side, GOP operatives touted "quality, not quantity" in their bench of rising stars.
Most often, consultants mentioned former Rep. Charles K. Djou as a potential candidate for 2014.
Djou, a lawyer and major in the Army Reserve, won a 2010 special election to succeed Abercrombie in the House. But he lost to Hanabusa in the general election later that year. Djou also lost a 2012 rematch to Hanabusa.
Republican operatives say many of the state's rising stars will likely hold off on a run for Congress until future cycles.
They include:
• First-term state Rep. Lauren Cheape, a beauty pageant contestant who competed in the Miss America 2012 pageant as Miss Hawaii.
• State Rep. Richard Fale, a veteran who Republican insiders say could potentially challenge Gabbard in the 2nd District down the line.
• Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson, the state House's new minority leader who has been praised for brokering bipartisan deals on the state level.
• First-term state Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang, who pulled off an upset victory in 2012 to become the first Republican to unseat a Democratic incumbent in many years.
• Honolulu City Councilmember Kymberly Pine. Pine, who is of Filipino descent, would appeal to the large Filipino population in the state, operatives say.
Farm Team is a state-by-state look at the up-and-coming politicos who may eventually run for Congress. The column runs on Thursdays.


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The Recording Academy played host to GRAMMYs On The Road at the Detroit Jazz Festival on Aug. 31 – Sept. 3 in downtown Detroit. GRAMMY.com conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including GRAMMY-nominated saxist Donny McCaslin and Latin GRAMMY-nominated and GRAMMY-winning percussionist Poncho Sánchez.
McCaslin discussed his early introduction to jazz, performing with vibraphonist Gary Burton's band and advice for aspiring musicians, among other topics.
"I remember looking in the bell of the saxophone one time, and there was a pool of condensation and a cigarette butt floating in the middle of it," said McCaslin. "I was 10 or something, and somehow I thought that was cool. It made some impression on me."
A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, McCaslin has performed as part of several bands, including Burton's jazz quintet and the experimental jazz collective Lan Xang. He released his debut solo album, Exile And Discovery, in 1998. He earned his first GRAMMY nomination in 2004 for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for "Bulería, Soleá Y Rumba." His forthcoming release, Casting For Gravity, is due Oct. 2 and features McCaslin exploring electronica influences.
Sánchez discussed being nominated for a Latin GRAMMY and a GRAMMY, his most recent album, Chano Y Dizzy! and plans for the future, among other topics.
"I'd like to do a recording of Poncho Sánchez Latin Jazz Band with a symphony orchestra. I'm looking to do that soon," said Sánchez.
One of the most influential conga players and percussionists in Afro-Cuban jazz history, this year Sánchez will be honored with a Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award during a ceremony in Las Vegas on Nov. 14. His first GRAMMY came in 1999 for Best Latin Jazz Performance for Latin Soul. Sánchez's most recent GRAMMY nomination came in 2010 for Best Latin Jazz Album for Psychedelic Blues. Sánchez has earned two Latin GRAMMY nominations for Best Latin Jazz Album for Poncho At Montreux and Psychedelic Blues in 2005 and 2010, respectively. His most recent release is 2011's Chano Y Dizzy!, a collaboration with GRAMMY-winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard.
In addition to artist interviews, The Recording Academy also presented GRAMMY SoundTables featuring Detroit Jazz Festival performers discussing their music and careers. Participants included GRAMMY winners Blanchard, Gary Burton and Joe Lovano.
Come back Monday for more GRAMMYs On The Road at Detroit Jazz Festival coverage.


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The Observer Watches
Hides in a box and watches the world burn
Getting into this box is what's best for both of us. During your time in the box, you will learn so much, and yet experience so little. It's a wild ride, my friend, one well worth the time spent...and let's face it, you don't have much to do these days anyway.
Monday 30 December 2013
The Singaporean Man/Reactosphere meetup - a smashing success.
Since it just ended less than an hour ago, I'd best get this down while it's still fresh in my mind.
Thanks to Didact's planning, the three-hour meetup bore considerable fruit, with him, me, and two others sitting down and discussing various topics which included:
*The ins and outs of various economic theories
*The possibility of a Singaporean collapse, how it might look like, what to prepare and what infrastructure is likely to go first
*Comparison of this situation to other regional collapses (eg. Indonesia during the Asian Currency Crisis)
*How to best get the Singaporean Government to pay attention (if at all possible) to the impending crisis, and why they won't listen to anything outside the paradigm
*And various other reactionary ideas.
Very productive and enjoyable time, made doubly so by said person promising to send Didact and I a couple of economic papers which he's been trying to get around. I should be able to get it up for you guys to give it a look-over once it arrives in my inbox.
Kudos to you all folks out there.
Saturday 21 December 2013
Singapore meetup.
Breaking out of my self-imposed silence for a moment to make a small announcement. I haven't been posting much due to my job search, and any spare time I have is spent browsing Mr. Soto's wonderful collection of neoreactionary books.
In any case, it seems that Fight Club has been moving out into meatspace for some time now. The various manosphere events have been most prominent in the minds of those involved in this little corner of the internet, but there's also been a recent meetup (or alternatively, hateup) of reactionaries in New York City which has gained a little less publicity, but I hear many important discussions have taken place there.
To this effect, Didact and I are looking to organise something similar, but on a much smaller scale than what's been done (as he points out, $5 for a local brew is pretty exorbitant). We're looking at the 27th or 30th, probably the latter, and already have one taker. The location will be something that's convenient for everyone (likely central Singapore) and more details will be released when events progress.
If you are interested, send either of us an email, or post a comment
Monday 25 November 2013
What a strange, long trip it's been.
This blog has been up for almost ten to eleven months now. Looking at the backlog, it's interesting to see how my views have changed over the course of one year.
Just looking at my earlier posts makes me feel a little embarrassed for actually ever having bought into the whole equality myth, which is why Mens' Rights Activists will ultimately fail, no matter what they do. When you go against human nature in the form of male disposability, no matter how hard you shame or legislate (even assuming that they could do so), you run up against this huge wall. Human nature is a feature, not a bug, and if you have to keep on filing bug reports then something is clearly wrong.
Next came MGTOW. Sure, I can agree with some ideas there, and still stick to them. But as Aurini points out, there's no sense in getting angry about the way men and women are. Each generation has its set of challenges, and you have to take them in stride as they come along.
So comes the whole Game/self improvement aspect, something which everyone can run. But the more important thing is that it acted as a gateway into the secret truth that is neoreaction: that when you question one part of modernity as it pertains to the sexes, you eventually start questioning all other aspects of modernity. Race. Education. Equality. Democracy. You can drink soda until you're acclimatised to it, but stop drinking it for a while and you realise how foul it really tastes. Modernity is the same way.
"Consider yourself. Why do you think you're beyond the effects of socialization? Do you think all "those others" in history didn't think they were perfectly normal as well? "I got through public school, and I'm fine." That may be, but consider: many also get through child abuse. By what metric do you reckon you're fine anyhow? Because you're educated, you have a job, you're not a bad person? Isn't that the metric you were taught by the system? "No, the system teaches me to buy things." And what taught you that this is what the system is like, if not the system? It may not teach you to buy things so much as it informs you of what to buy, and even if we suppose advertising has no effect on you, you still like the taste of Coca Cola. What is Coca Cola anyway? Sugar and water. If you could be adapted to drinking a superstimulus so patently unavailable in nature, what makes you think you couldn't be adapted to the superstimuli of democratic theater and other forms of intellectual pornography?"I was not so surprised that the mainstream media attempted a hit piece on the manosphere - after all, most are interested in sex and how to get Jimmy or Jenny to like them. What everyone is more surprised at is how the mainstream has picked up onto neoreaction with the usual opening hit piece. After all, we're just "geeks for monarchy", right?
This is the final stop for me, I think. Neoreaction questions everything about the modern world and what it leads us to believe.
Friday 22 November 2013
Feminists howl and cry over bawdy Singaporean Armed Forces song, SAF capitulates.
Well, was I expecting any different? Let's pick out some hilarious quotes from the article:
"However what was revolting was the flood of misogynistic and sexist comments against AWARE for interfering in the internal affairs of MINDEF. AWARE is a non-profit organization, a member of civil society who actively engages with the government. Since the 1980s, AWARE has published books, reports and held discussions with statutory bodies to elevate and strive for gender equality. In 2003 the restriction on female intakes in NUS's medical faculty was lifted after AWARE made the efforts for it. Either the public is oblivious of AWARE's long-term efforts to empower women or sexism is still deeply embedded in Singapore's culture."*Typical destruction of masculine space by women who have no skin in the game.
*Non-profit organisations (that mysteriously have well-paid members, boards, and suck up tons of government money in grants) are not automatically good. If anything, they are actively detrimental, being instrumental arms of the Cathedral.
*Assumption that sex equality is good. (Do not use gender. Do not use the left's terminology and accept their frame.)
*The training of women doctors is an active malinvestment, considering the repeated global studies oft cited in the manosphere regarding hours worked, time taken off, specialisations, and individuals who leave the workforce for any period of time between the sexes in the field - a greater return to society is given when men are trained as doctors compared to women. Strictly speaking, the restriction of places for women was a logical and rational move. But as has been repeatedly shown, economics and reality be damned, ideology trumps all. Equality!
"This Purple Light saga has revealed much of our society's mindset and deep-seated hatred for AWARE."And rightly so. You are anti-civilisational and should be reviled, as Queen Elizabeth I did to the feminists of her time. Feminism has been recorded as one of the many reasons why great civilisations such as Greece, Sparta, and Rome have fallen - but of course, progressives see history as one great line towards greater progress and glory, unable to observe the cycle of history as outlined in all those silly bronze age texts put forth by goat herders.
"The response clearly shows that advocacy groups like AWARE have a long way to go in combating stereotypes and prevailing attitudes that undermine the efforts of women.""We have a stereotype that people who use stereotypes are stupid." - Bryce Laliberte.
"What should be exhaustive is society's silence on crude misogyny and relentless chauvinism. Yes Singapore is not an institutional patriarchy. However the patriarchal mindset is still detrimental to both men and women. It has negative effects on society and makes no sense to future growth. Sexism and misogyny has no room in the modern century. Until we do not raise our voices and work towards correcting these myopic attitudes, social justice and equality will never be achieved."*Unable to state "negative effects", nor how it is supposedly detrimental to men and women, when the exact opposite is becoming more evident by the day as society becomes more and more dysfunctional. How's that 25% of all US women on antidepressants working out for you?
*Unable to define "growth", nor how patriarchy makes no sense to it.
*"Wrong side of history" argument, contention that the past has nothing to teach us.
*Assumption that "social justice" and "equality" are good things. Why? They just are.
"This is a textbook example of feminine discourse. Note how she doesn't actually bring up any specific proposition of mine and then argue against it, she just calls me sexist, claims offense, and leaves with a non sequitor." - Bryce Laliberte.
Essentially, the entire article can be boiled down to two points:
*Singapore is sexiss.
*Bawdy versions of army songs are sexiss and normalise rape.
I also finds it amusing that she openly admits AWARE has been caught lying about their achievements (claiming "Purple Light" was banned) and yet trumpets their "achievements" as proof that they do good. One would be more inclined to inspect those claims, no?
For any of you Singaporean guys out there, I'm sure you all know "Purple Light" - anyone who has been through the SAF's grindmill should. Am I surprised the SAF was all over themselves to grovel and whine and say they are not sexiss? Well, what am I supposed to expect to an army made up of merchants, in a nation made up of merchant?
"As Sunshine Mary observed, leftists are oppressed by reality itself, so do not acknowledge being on top and privileged.
Thus racism and sexism, strangely, never go away, no matter how much privilege women and black receive, which justifies ever more drastic measures against their oppressors." - Jim.
It would all work, really, it would all work, if it weren't for those evil racists/sexists/homophobists/capitalists/saboteurs/kulaks/monarchists just ruining all our wonderful utopian dreams!
Saturday 16 November 2013
Monarchy makes a comeback in the minds of people.
Just throwing this out there:
1/3 of Russians want their Tsar back.
Georgians consider a return to monarchy.
Seems like more and more people are waking up to the idea that democracy is a bad idea. Courtesy of Radish Magazine (click to enlarge):
Friday 15 November 2013
Nothing new under the sun.
Great article from Alternative Right: go read it here.
According to Tradition, the various epochs of human history are reduced down to Four Ages, each of which deteriorates in a state of gradual degeneration. In Hinduism, these are known as the Four Yugas, respectively titled the Satya or Krta Yuga, Tretā Yuga, Dvāpara Yuga, and the Kali Yuga. These also correspond to the four eras symbolized by metals found in Hesiod's Works & Days, being the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron Ages.[3] Similar versions of this myth are also found in the Persian, Chaldean, Egyptian, Aztec, and Norse Traditions.
Many of the predictions held for the Kali Yuga arise from the Hindu scriptures known as the Purānas – in particular the Linga and Bhāgavata Purānas provide lengthy descriptions of the events that will unfold as the Kali Yuga accelerates. An entire section of the Bhāgavata Purāna is devoted to the evils of the Kali Age. Some of the defining points of the Kali Yuga are described as follows:
"In the Kali Yuga, wealth alone will be the deciding factor of nobility of birth, righteous behavior or merits. And only brute force will be the only standard in the arrangement or decision of what is righteous or just.[27] […] When (in the Kali Age) religion will be predominantly heretical, and kings will be as good as robbers and men will be earning their livelihood by theft, (economic offences), mendacity, wanton violence to life and such other pursuits.[28] […] Thieves function as kings and kings function as thieves. The chaste ladies cease to exist and wanton sluts increase in number.[29] […] As a result of Kali's influence, mortal beings become dull-witted, unlucky, voracious, destitute of wealth yet voluptuous, and women, wanton, and unchaste.[30] […] In the Kali Age, men will abandon their parents, brothers, friends and relatives and establish their friendliness on sexual basis. Their affection being centered on their relation with women, they will seek consultations from their wives' relatives (such as sisters and brother-in-laws) and will be miserable.[31] […] Killing of fetus and murder of heroes become prevalent.[32] […] In Kali Age men excited by tamoguna adopt Māyā (deception) and jealousy. They do not hesitate to kill ascetics. They are always tormented by jealousy.[33] […] In Kali cooked food will be kept for sale in living places. The selling of Vedas and other sacred literature will occur in cross streets; young women will even sell their honour.[34] […] Women will be short-statured but voracious, noted for fecundity and shameless. They will be harsh-speakers, given to theft, fraud and dare-devilry."[35]
From these extracts it is clear that a significant amount of the negativity embodied in the Kali Yuga originates from humanity itself, under the influence of the tamas guna (materialistic component of existence). In the Kali Yuga we see an increasing trend towards indulgence on the material plane, such as the abandonment of religion, obsession with sex, and jealousy over the wealth and acquisitions of others. People are respected by their wealth alone, and not for deeper personal qualities such as strength of character or personal achievements. Under the reign of the dark material strand of existence, only materialistic pleasures such as sex and wealth are accorded merit by society in the Kali Yuga. This materialism is also expressed in the passage regarding the abandonment of aged parents and the killing of fetuses – this can clearly be seen in today's increasing trend towards placing ones parents in Rest Homes or Retirement Villages, left to die amongst strangers rather than accepting responsibility for the elderly. The killing of fetuses can likewise be seen to relate to today's increased abortion rates. Other symptoms include the moral degeneration of the female to a purely sexual role and a corresponding increase in the growth and social acceptance of prostitution. Perhaps the most unusual prediction here though, is the one that cooked food will be kept for sale in living spaces – a clear reference to fast food, and the mass consumption of it by the populace at large. A similar picture of civilization slowly decaying from within can be found in the Vishnu Purāna. The Vishnu Purāna (IV, 24) also tells us that the syndrome of the Kali Yuga is marked by the fact that it is the only age in which property alone confers social rank; wealth becomes the only motive of the virtues, passion and lust the only bonds between the married, falsehood and deception the first condition of success in life, sexuality the sole means of enjoyment, while external, merely ritualistic religion is confused with spirituality.[36] The problems brought by the Kali Yuga are not entirely brought about by moral collapse however – there are also a set of predictions relating to environmental problems.
Monday 11 November 2013
Because I am a hasty fool...
...I would like to make an addendum to my last post, because I'm the sort of hasty fool who thinks of important points after I mouth off.
*Upon rereading the original post which sparked this whole exchange, it would appear that we are not so much in disagreement as I had thought. While I still disagree with Didact on some points, such as everyone being equally possessed of reason - which is still a notion of the Enlightenment - he nevertheless does state that those who abuse, or are likely to abuse their rights should have them restricted.
That more or less puts the question down to one of frame control. The core problem lies with how the inevitable calls for expansion of the franchise are dealt with. The framing of various privileges as rights, like republicanism, inevitably leads to demotism; however, when framed as privileges, they can be rescinded much more easily in cases of abuse. Few would argue against a right to life and freedom, but then why do we put people in prison, if not the death penalty when they show they are unable to handle such freedoms without harming others?
Essentially put, it's frame control. "No, you cannot have a say in government because you're not of the aristocracy. Buy a land and title, marry an aristocrat's daughter, or perform some service to the king. Having a say in government is a freedom we accord you." as opposed to "You can't deny my RIGHT to vote!"
*I would like to vehemently disagree that the concept of Noblesse Oblige is one that is exclusive to western civilisation. Consider my post on the Analects:
"In leading a state of a thousand chariots, respect the office and be trustworthy, economise the use of resources and love the people, and employ the people when it is timely."These are but a few verses amongst others which highlight the idea that by virtue of their elevated position, aristocrats and rulers have a paternal duty towards their vassals and need to be virtuous in their ruling. Remember that the Analects formed the backbone of the Imperial Examinations' syllabus for over a thousand years - while like in all systems, there were obviously those who slipped through the cracks, the duty of rulers towards the ruled was nevertheless the officially endorsed position in much of Chinese thought for that time. Sure, there were corrupt officials who did not behave in such a manner, but it was expected of them, and everyone knew they weren't living up to the expected standard.
- Chapter 1, verse 5.
"To rule with virtue is like the North Star in its place, around which all other stars revolve in homage."
- Chapter 2, verse 1.
Duke Ting asked: "How should the lord employ his subjects, and how should subjects serve their lord?"
Confucius replied: "The lord should employ his subjects in accordance with the rites. The subjects should serve their lord with loyalty."
- Chapter 3, verse 19.
*This is a perfect example of "rights" trumping everything, no matter how deleterious, by a self-professed libertarian.
Amongst the other stupid fallacies this fellow commits, such as correlation = causation (cities with growing tech industries have more homosexuals, hence tolerance of those like homosexuals causes creativity, which causes growth), he openly admits that adultery causes numerous problems, yet still wants it to go forward. Why? Because "tolerance" and "individual freedom".
It's not about me being harmed, it's about civilisation and society, which apparently you don't give a shit about. Civilisation doesn't happen by magic.
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Direct mail is not the only print marketing collateral you need to keep in your bag of tricks. Business cards, brochures, promotional flyers, postcards, coasters—they're all valuable, especially when you connect them to your digital efforts.
Here's a look at the top three print marketing tools you need in your arsenal: business cards, brochures, and flyers.
Business Cards
For all the hoopla about digital business cards, the paper business card is here to stay. It's more personal than sending someone your digital card and offers a great opportunity to build your brand. Here are some things to consider when designing business cards:
- Information to include: Depending on your business, you may not need to include a physical address. (Just make sure the address is easy to find on your website). Do include your name and title, company name, logo and tagline, phone and mobile number, website URL, and social media addresses.
- Size and paperweight: Most business cards are the standard 3 ½ x 2 inches, but that doesn't mean you can't be different (especially if your business is in a creative industry). You can also say a lot with the thickness of your paper stock or use recycled paper to show your commitment to being green.
- Fonts and design: Your business card is a reflection of your business's brand and should use the same font and colors. To make your card stand out, you could choose raised, glossy or metallic print.
- Innovation: If you really want to stand out, create additional formats of your business card for different events and promotions. For example, you could develop business cards on seed packets for an Earth Day event, put your business card on refrigerator magnets or leave space to write a personal note on each one.
Sometimes customers don't have time to hear your presentation and just want to read about your company on their own time. A brochure allows you to not only share important information about your product or service, but also brings your brand's story to life by letting the customer know about your staff, your mission, and your goals. Your brochure can be as long or short as you wish, but unless you have a very visual product, you'll probably want to limit it to a trifold or four-panel size.
Here are some tips to create a successful brochure:
- Think cover story! What's going to make your reader open up your brochure? A simple cover image with enticing copy emphasizing the benefits your business offers should do the trick.
- Once readers open your brochure, they want to be informed but also moved to do more. Make sure you use calls to action throughout your copy.
- As an extension of your brand, your brochure is a gateway to your website and social media channels, so include that information. Also add phone and email addresses, so customers can follow up with questions or orders.
- Finally, consider including a coupon as an incentive for the customer to keep the brochure instead of throwing it away.
Flyers are similar to brochures, but a lot less complicated and don't have to be professionally designed. Remember why you're creating a flyer in the first place, and use a design that supports that purpose. Flyers are good marketing tools for promoting events, announcing sales and grand openings, offering discounts, and more.
When creating your flyers, keep in mind:
- A flyer is only one page, so simple and brief is key.
- The whole purpose of the flyer is the call to action, so make it stand out!
- Be clear about what you want the recipient to do, whether it's trying your service, visiting your store, or stopping by your booth at the local farmers market.
- A flyer doesn't have to be 8 ½ by 11. Make it a half or quarter page and save paper.
- Add an incentive: "Bring in this flyer for 10% off!"
Print Marketing Collateral Tips
To develop the best possible print marketing collateral:
- Use the same basic information in all of your collateral items, customizing it to the particular piece. For instance, your brochure can incorporate elements from your company fact sheet.
- Integrate print and online marketing collateral. The same information you use on your business website can be used in your print collateral. For example, the "About" page on your website should include the same general information as your company background sheet.
- Proofread everything. Before you print or use any marketing collateral, make sure that it is free of spelling and grammar errors. Carefully check phone numbers, email addresses, and other contact information.
- Know your options. Learn the features of your business printer and how it can help you print professional-level print collateral. For larger runs, ask other business owners in your area what printing services they use.
By developing print marketing materials with your brand in mind, you'll develop an arsenal of marketing tools that all work together to attract customers and spur sales.
Copyright © 2023 SCORE Association, SCORE.org
Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.


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Low Calorie Bentos
Submitted by anon. on Tue, 2009-01-13 12:46
Hey Everyone!
I am trying to make bentos that are under 250 calories (300 at absolute most) and was wondering if people had any ideas. Because I keep the calorie content so low my bentos tend to look a bit empty. Any tasty suggestions that would be nutritious, and pretty would be very appreciated. Thanks :)


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Inquiries into the options and costs to reduce GHGs, especially CO2, emissions indicate that the costs of reductions vary substantially across sectors in any given national economy and, perhaps even more significantly, across countries. This implies that for uniformly mixing pollutants like GHGs the costs of achieving any given level of environmental protection could be reduced if emission reductions were undertaken at locations where the associated costs are lowest. The concept has become known as where-flexibility in the climate policy literature. An institutional setting is required to exploit the opportunities of where flexibility, which involves a great variety of private and public decision-makers who originate from different cultures, represent different constituencies (if any), and live in systems with different social norms. Where-flexibility entails linkages both to other international agreements (GATT, Second European Sulphur Protocol, etc.) and to the legal systems of individual nations. As a result of its effects on relative prices, the choice between the international or domestic strategy also affects technological change.
In principle, two different mechanisms achieve where-flexibility: allowances and credit baseline. In the case of allowances, each participant starts with an initial endowment of pollution rights distributed by the government or through an auction. Emission rights must cover each unit of emission. This system has the character of emissions trading. Under a credit-baseline system, each participant has a baseline (i.e., a counterfactual, hypothetical emission trend) at the country, sector, or project level. Some measures are undertaken to reduce emissions. The difference between the baseline and the factual emissions is credited by an institutional body and can be traded. This system has the character of emissions reduction production.
The Kyoto Protocol contains three instruments to make use of where-flexibility: IET embodies the allowance system, while CDM and JI reflect the credit-baseline system. The Kyoto Protocol on Iet allows Annex I parties with commitments listed in Annex B to trade emission allowances during the commitment period. As for JI, Article 6 declares that Annex I parties with commitments listed in Annex B are allowed to transfer or acquire emission reduction units that result from projects during the commitment period (the reduction units are specific to countries; these parties have national baselines). Finally, CDM as defined in Article 12 implies that, starting in 2000, Annex I parties listed in Annex B are allowed to acquire certified emission reductions from projects within the jurisdictions of non-Annex I parties.
Three general principles operate behind these arrangements:
Ample attention has been paid to formulate principles for the design of where-flexibility instruments at the national and international level. The principles in the literature (Michaelowa, 1995; Watt et al., 1995; Carter et al., 1996; Matsuo, 1998, Matsuo et al., 1998; OECD, 1998; Ott, 1998; EC, 1999) include:
In creating a regime for flexible instruments, perhaps the most important lesson about multilateral agreements of the past two decades is that large and apparently perfect constructions have rarely been implemented quickly. Quite the contrary, the most successful examples of international regime building are based on a piecemeal approach, that is the stepwise evolution of political and legal mechanisms (Ott, 1998). For current DMFs, this might lead to a strategy with several phases that bring together the national and international levels at the speed of progress in international regime building (Holtsmark and Hagem, 1998). This would involve a two-stage game for IET (Ott, 1998), with a twin cycle system for JI (Heller, 1995) that focuses on the learning process in creating an international regime for JI.
There are some new and important factors to consider in the design of the instruments (see Ott, 1998). The economic and ecological dimensions of climate change and its mitigation affect different constituencies, sectors, and cultural values of the parties. Stakeholders range from states and international organizations to private companies and NGOs. Incentives motivate both private and governmental participants to report the highest possible baselines of GHG emissions to secure the largest amount of certified reduction credits. However, other processes create the opposite incentives.
The implementation of these instruments can be seen as a further step towards a more flexible and market-oriented policy in international environmental policy, and as an extension of national instruments to the international level. At the national level, some experience has already been accumulated with emissions trading, such as the Emission Trading Program under the US Acid Rain Program, the Los Angeles Regional Clean Air Incentives Markets, and the Norwegian Sulphur Trading programme introduced in 1999. Actual experience is much thinner internationally. Examples of the possibility for emission trading include the Montreal Protocol intended to curb CFC emissions that deplete the ozone layer and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Sulphur Protocol.
Many plausible arguments support the use of international mechanisms, as outlined below.
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